New Trailer for Mario Tennis Fever Highlights Cheating Mechanics in Switch 2 Exclusive

A fresh trailer for Mario Tennis Fever has dropped, showcasing the exciting new features in this latest installment of the beloved series. It seems like the focus is on creative ways to bend the rules, with some cheeky antics like setting the court ablaze or summoning massive foes to throw off your opponent’s game.

Camelot has been at the helm of the Mario Tennis franchise since the N64 days, with the first game launching back in 1999. Mario Tennis Fever marks the seventh entry and the first new title in eight years, following up on the 2018 Switch game, Mario Tennis Aces. This time around, the game-pausing and time-slowing Zone Shots from Aces have been replaced with the innovative Power Rackets. These allow the roster of 38 characters (with more likely to come post-launch) to unleash all sorts of wild court effects when their power meters are filled, such as freezing the opponent’s side or igniting small fires.

For those who prefer a more traditional experience, you can disable the chaos and enjoy a more realistic tennis match, complete with new slides and dives for shots. The controls remain intuitive, allowing you to swing your Joy-Con like a tennis racket, similar to Aces.

As for new characters, the additions might not be the most thrilling. You can expect to see Goomba (who holds the racket in his mouth), Nabbit (the mischievous purple thief from New Super Mario Bros. U), and the quirky Baby Waluigi. There are also some bizarre new game modes, including one where you aim at Piranha Plants to feed them, which causes the court to sprout new grass patches and expand. Another mode features a court designed like a pinball machine.

Wonder Court Matches introduce elements from the recent 2D Super Mario Bros. Wonder, alongside an Adventure mode filled with individual levels. Plus, there are four-player local matches utilizing the Switch 2’s Game Share feature, so not everyone needs their own copy. Online play is also available, featuring ranked matches, tournaments, and casual games. However, fans are still yearning for an RPG mode! Camelot, we need RPG modes back! There hasn’t been a greater Mario sports title than Mario Golf: Advance Tour, and the absence of RPG elements in recent Golf and Tennis games is sorely felt.

It looks like Camelot has packed a ton of content into this game, and we’re hopeful it will help restore the series’ reputation after the Wii U’s Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash. The wait won’t be long, as the game is set to release on February 12.